Brett Deledio signs with Tongala for next season
A country club has signed a former number one draft pick as it prepares for next season. Find out why he’s returning close to home.
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Tongala has landed the first major signing of the 2024 country footy recruiting merry-go-round with the arrival of a former number one AFL draft pick.
The Murray league side has signed Brett Deledio for next year in a major coup for the club,
It comes with their junior talent, Harley Reid, expected to go number one in this year’s AFL Draft.
The move came about through two influential new recruits for the Blues.
New senior coach Billy Barnes is the brother in law of Deledio with the former Richmond and GWS player’s father, Wayne, joining as an assistant.
“Brett’s keen to come up and get back involved in the local area again,” Tongala football manager Tristan Kreymborg said.
“He was originally from Kyabram (15 minutes from Tongala).
“He wants to play a bit of footy with his brother in law and his father.”
Kreymborg said Deledio will play several games for the club next year.
“He’s committing for a fair part of it if all goes to plan,” he said.
“(How many games he plays is) up in the air, we’ll have to see how he goes.
“He’s got a pretty busy life in Melbourne with a few commitments so we’ll play it by ear as we go through the year.”
Tongala finished 11th this year missing finals for the first time since 2018.
The club is hoping with the additions of Deledio and Barnes the club can rise again.
“We got the chance to play a lot of the younger kids (last season) and see how their development is going and what they’ll be able to bring in the next few years,” Kreymborg said.
“We’re now trying to top up with a few extra players and a few recruits.
“Brett coming on board is a big one for that and it will hopefully help the club going forward.”
Kreymborg revealed 95 per cent of the young players who played for the club last season will return next year.
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